The Empire

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Curt and Karl.  Sculptamold applied.  It will probably take a couple of days to dry.  Some paint smudges on the wall,  gives it character.     The left edge could have been extended further to the backdrop, but I think after this is covered with some bushes/trees it'll look fine.   The train clearance there is pretty tight.  After it dries, I'll have to run the Zephyr by it and hope it clears.


Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

I have had similar clearance issues also Jeff. Fingers crossed it works for you without any required modifications.

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Curt.  I'm going ahead with the initial ground cover before testing the track  First dirt is on.  The Bottle on the road is a Canopy Glue bottle with the tip cut off to about 4mm (5/32") diameter opening.  This is very useful for just little spots of dirt rather than trying to insert a pinch with your fingers.  The light stone area is an experiment.  Looking at asphalt roads, there's usually a small shoulder of gravel/dirt on the sides.  Looking at pictures on the internet, sometimes the grass comes right up to the edge as well.  It looks OK, but as I have no margin for this on the other side (last pic), I don't think this will look good here, so I'm just going to go with the dirt/vegetation right up to the edge.  There's not really room for a guard rail either, my LPs better be alert and not texting so they drive off the road.     Looking up in the link about the road striping, I don't need to use an edge stripe here--so that will save me painting it.  I can use yellow or white broken lines in the center lane for 1948-54 period. 


Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

Great looking modeling.

[Mkrailway]

Jeff, good attention to the details, especially the edge of the road. Add a touch of the gravel on the road edges to hint that there was a should there at one time.

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks Curt and Marty.  I don't think there's enough room at the edge here to add the gravel, Marty.  I really had to have no shoulders on the road so it would fit between the diorama and the tracks.  Basic ground cover is finished, and the static grass is drying.  I've got some MiniNatur Ivy I've tried to cover the spot where the walls come together.  I think it looks pretty good.  I need to add a little more.  I'd like a lighter green color ivy as well, but this is the only color it comes in.  I have some other stuff to try as well, but I'm waiting for the static grass to dry and then I'll clean up that mess and add some other cover.  I still need to make those Super Trees.   


Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Removing the tape from the road shows some earth color on the asphalt, so this will need touch up.  Some areas the ground cover was glued to the tape as well, so some edges got pulled off.  this will also require touch up.  The parking lot of the general store has a lot of dirt and static grass on it as well.  This is best removed by brushing, then vacuuming, and finally using the painter's tape as a slightly sticky thing to pick up the dirt and static grass (which gets EVERYWHERE).   I also noticed after taking these pics that I'd forgotten to A&I the wall.  I tried a raw umber wash, but it made the wall a monotonous brown.  An A&I wash seemed to darken it just enough. 


Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I also removed the tape from the tracks and made sure the clearance was still OK.  The Pioneer Zephyr cleared.  Walthers passenger cars BARELY cleared.  Rapido passenger cars cleared as well.  No ivy will be placed on the end section.      This track will be designated for the Pioneer Zephyr or North Coast Limited. 


Jeff

[S&S RR]

Looking good Jeff!  Passenger cars are always the big test.

[PRR Modeler]

Looks good. I'm glad everything fit alright without modifications.

[jbvb]

Good progress, Jeff.  Brass articulated locos with the boiler prototypically rigidly mounted to the rear engine are always the worst at overhang on curves, but they're less common these days.

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, James.  The CB&Q had articulateds, but they ran in the Black Hills, not near this layout.    One thing I'd like to get finished before I'm done with my off work hiatus is to complete and power up the East Staging yard.  The first pic shows the area for the track, this piece of plywood is removable, so I can get at the back track.  I figured I needed to complete the "backdrop" here first.  I used King Mills Flats for this.  Unfortunately, they are no longer producing them.    I bought a bunch of them when they were closing them out.  Cut them out, use a black Sharpie on the edges and glued them to the backdrop with 3M spray adhesive.  They're more impressive if you can stagger them out a bit so they're aren't all flat, but there's no clearance between the back track and the wall for that. The two left ones and the farthest right one are not glued on as I'm not sure what's going to go to the left of this and I have a couple of background flat kits for the right side.   A little dirt and greenery between the track and backdrop and that'll do.


Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

I think they look good.

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

The flats do look very good. I bought many as he was quitting the flats business. Unfortunately I din'[t get manyh of the ones I wanted. However, I did get many of the ones I wanted.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks Curt and Tom.  Minimal scenery here.  Just painted the track and put some ground cover in.  I don't intend to finish the yard with ballast, probably won't even do the main track, either.  Better test it before I put the plywood back in.   


Jeff